Septic systems balance biology, chemistry, and physical science. Any homeowner using a septic tank understands that keeping this balance is of the utmost importance.
Using septic friendly toilet paper is one way to ensure that the ‘physical’ side of the equation is taken care of. The best toilet paper for septic tanks is one that dissolves quickly and doesn’t have excess chemicals that will shake the chemical balance of the septic system.
Best Septic Safe Toilet Paper
The best septic safe toilet paper would be fastest dissolving toilet paper that is also strong enough for the job. Having to use more toilet paper because it doesn’t hold together well during use is just plain wrong. As well as being counter-intuitive to the idea of it breaking down quickly once flushed. More toilet paper will just take longer to break down. Using toilet paper for septic tanks will help keep your septic system safe and working well.
What is Septic Safe Toilet Paper?
Septic systems rely on microorganisms (bacteria) to help break down the physical waste, chemicals to maintain an optimal environment for those microorganisms, and gravity to pull the waste and water through the soil to ‘filter’ it.
The best toilet paper for septic tanks is one that doesn’t upset the delicate balance within the septic system.
Dissolves rapidly. Septic safe toilet paper should break down quickly and easily when flushed down the toilet. Biodegradable toilet paper is designed to break down more quickly by ensuring that the bonds in the paper are looser and there are no non-dissolvable fibers to slow down the process of breaking down when exposed to water.
No dyes or perfumes. Dyes and perfumes will upset the chemical balance of the septic system, which will affect the microorganisms that do the work of breaking down the waste. It’s important that toilet paper used in septic fields contain no dyes or perfumes.
Single ply. Two, or three ply, toilet paper may be a plusher experience but it takes much longer for these toilet papers to break down, leading to clogging of septic systems. Single ply toilet paper is the best toilet paper for septic tanks.
Testing Septic Safe Toilet Papers
There is no doubt that switching to a septic safe toilet paper is a compromise between comfort, strength, and doing what’s best for your septic system (and the environment).
Here is an easy experiment you can do yourself at home to see the benefits of septic safe toilet paper vs regular toilet paper.
- Find a mason jar, or other clear container.
- Fill the jar about 3/4 full with tap water.
- Place 4 or 5 squares of toilet paper into the jar – you can try the experiment a few times; try flat toilet paper, wadded toilet paper, ‘wrapped’ toilet paper etc.
- Put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- You can now see how much the toilet paper has broken down.
- If the toilet paper is still quite intact then it is not breaking down quickly and may cause problems in a septic tank.
- If the toilet paper is broken up into very small pieces, then you are using a septic safe toilet paper already.
12 Septic Safe Toilet Paper Brands (2022)
Scott Rapid-Dissolving Toilet Paper
- 48 rolls/pack
- 238 sheets/roll
- Single Ply
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified
- Specially made for use in sensitive septic systems
- Breaks down 4X faster than other toilet tissue
- Soft, absorbent, and unscented
A toilet paper that delivers what it says; soft, strong, absorbent, AND breaks down 4x faster than other brands. This paper is specifically made for septic systems and RV systems.
It passes the test for comfort and strength and is proven to break down quickly to allow septic systems to work as they should.
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Freedom Living RV Toilet Paper
- 8 rolls/pack
- 500 sheets/roll
- 2 ply
- Dissolves quickly and easily
- 100% Biodegradable - Perfect for RVs, tiny houses, off-grid living, boats, yachts, marine, camping, hiking, eco retreats, composting toilets and other septic tank users
A 2-ply toilet paper with gentle ripples to increase strength and comfort, yet degrades rapidly in just minutes. Honestly, it’s probably more suited to RV and marine use than in your home bathroom but, if you have a particularly sensitive septic system, then this may just help to keep it running smoothly.
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Camco Septic Safe Toilet Paper
- 4 rolls/pack
- 280 sheets/roll
- Single Ply
- Designed for use in RV and marine sanitation systems
- RV and marine approved
- Clog resistant
- Biodegradable and septic tank safe
- Designed for use in RV and marine sanitation syst
Designed specifically for RV use, this toilet paper breaks down quickly. Users report almost zero residue when dumping wastewater tanks. This means that it will have zero impact on septic systems that rely on quickly dissolving toilet paper in order to maintain balance.
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Firebelly Outfitters RV Toilet Paper
- 8 rolls/pack
- 500 sheets/roll
- 2 Ply
- BEST RV TOILET PAPER - made specifically to ease the flow of waste water by reducing the bulk caused by regular toilet paper
- FAST DISSOLVE TOILET PAPER - thisquick dissolve toilet paper is designed to dissolve faster and more completely than standard bathroom tissue. This will reduce the frequency of sewer cleaner, sewer solution, and make your sewer cleanout process much easier.
- SEPTIC TANK SAFE - Our septic tank safe toilet paper contains no dyes or parabens, is 100% biodegradable, and is safe for all septic systems, portable potty, and camp toil
This family owned company manufactures a septic safe, RV toilet paper that receives almost nothing but 5 star reviews. It contains no dyes, scents, or parabens that may cause trouble in septic tanks. This 100% biodegradable toilet paper is quick dissolving, yet still manages to do the job it is designed to do.
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Plushi Toilet Tissue
- 4 boxes/pack
- 80 toilet tissues/box
- No toilet roll holder required! Switch to toilet tissue instead of toilet paper.
- Pre-cut 190 x 200mm sheets made to maximize use and minimize waste.
- Designed to quickly disintegrate upon contact with water, so they are completely flushable and won’t cause clogs — even in septic syst
Using pre-cut toilet tissue instead of toilet roll helps to control the amount of paper that is flushed into the septic system. Plushi tissues quickly disintegrate upon contact with water so won’t clog pipes or cause issues in the septic field.
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Grenlay Quick Dissolve Toilet Paper
- 12 rolls/pack
- 230 sheets/roll
- Septic tank safe: for all septic tank systems,
- Dissolves quickly to leave little residue and will help to keep your systems healthy and clog-free
- No additives, dyes, scents, or parab
A soft, reliable toilet paper that dissolves quickly leaving little to no residue behind. It provides an excellent bathroom experience while being gentle on your septic system.
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Roadstead Biodegradable and Septic Safe Toilet Paper
- 8 rolls/pack
- 500 sheets/roll
- 2 ply rapid dissolve toilet tissue is super strong for the tough jobs, while still being ultra-soft
- Gentle and dye free with a light texture added for maximum cleaning. Dye and fragrance free, making it gentle on your sensitive areas and safe for our planet.
- Quick dissolving so it wont clog. It dissolves faster and more completely than standard bathroom tissue paper. It’s specifically designed to quickly break down making it ideal for use in septic tan
Another RV specific paper that will work just as well on sensitive septic systems. This septic friendly toilet paper has no dyes or fragrance and breaks down quickly and efficiently. This means less time spent, and less worry, about how you will balance out the septic eco-system.
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Seventh Generation White Toilet Paper
- 2-ply bathroom tissue designed for softness and strength
- Made with 100% Recycled Paper*, no added dyes, inks, or fragrances
- Compatible with low-flow toilets in RVs and campers
- Septic-safe
- Shipment includes 24-roll per pack, 240 sheets per roll
This 100% recycled toilet paper contains no chlorine bleach, inks, dyes, or fragrances. Seventh Generation is an environmentally friendly company whose products are known to work and be non-toxic to family, pets, and the environment.
This toilet paper works well with low-flow toilets, RV’s, and septic systems.
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Cottonelle Ultra CleanCare Toilet Paper
- Unique Active CleaningRipples texture provides softness and removes more at once for a Superior Clean vs. the Leading National Value Brand
- Designed with premium ingredients to deliver the most luxurious clean
- Strong 1-ply bathroom tissue that is 3x thicker, 3x stronger, 2x more absorbent vs. Leading National Value Brand
- Paraben-free toilet tissue that is free of added perfumes and dyes
- For a Superior Clean (using dry & moist together vs. dry alone), add Cottonelle Flushable Wipes to your bathroom routine
Is Cottonelle Septic Safe?
Cottonelle is a trusted toilet paper brand that is producing a toilet paper that is great for regular use, great for septic systems, and good for the environment too.
It’s a one-ply toilet paper but with quilting that provides better absorbance and strength while not affecting the ability to break down quickly in the tank. Paraben free, with no dyes or scents added means it’s also good for the environment.
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Caboo Tree-Free Bamboo Toilet Paper
- Tree Free Toilet Paper made from organically grown Bamboo & Sugarcane, both are fast growing grasses giving you a natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional tree based bath tissue
- 100% biodegradable and septic safe for all disposal systems, perfect for RVs, boats, camping, travel, backpacking, and more
- Soft & Strong 2 ply sheets give you the perfect combination of bamboos strength & sugarcanes softest fibers
- Hypoallergenic, non chlorine, BPA-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and non-GMO project verified, giving you full honest transparency and unmatched excellence
- Contains a bulk pack of 32 double rolls with 300 sheets per roll. Caboo is accredited by the BRC Global Standards, FSC, ISO 14000, and is proudly panda friendly
A toilet paper made of bamboo and sugar cane rather than trees. Bamboo and sugar cane are fast growing grasses that are sustainable options for producing paper fibres. It is chlorine, paraben, scent, and dye-free but this 2 ply toilet paper still gets the job done and then dissolves quickly. A great alternative to traditional toilet paper.
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Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper
- 12 rolls/pack
- 360 sheets/roll
- Biodegradabe, compostable, and tree free
- Made with 100% all natural, non-GMO bamboo
- No dyes or sce
The jury is still out on bamboo toilet paper and its friendliness to septic systems. It is a softer product that is biodegradable and compostable with no dyes or scents; so it should work well in septic systems. Our Bargain Bathroom recommendation is to try it out – perform the DIY test above – and see if it is better than the product you are using today.
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Amazon Basics Toilet Paper
- Includes 30 Rolls (5 packs of 6 Rolls)
- Each roll has 350 2-ply sheets (10,500 sheets in total)
- Safe for standard Sewer and Septic Syst
Amazon Basics continues to deliver some of the best value. This septic safe toilet paper performs well and is unscented and dye free so will work well with septic systems.
Sometimes all you need are the basics.
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Worst Toilet Paper for Septic Systems
As important as it is to know the best septic safe toilet paper, it’s also important to know the worst toilet paper for septic systems so that you can avoid it and keep you septic system in the best shape it can be. The worst toilet paper would be the opposite of the best; it would not be very strong AND it wouldn’t break down quickly.
Here are some ‘features’ to avoid so that you don’t choose the worst toilet paper for your septic system:
- Triple (or quadruple!) ply – the more layers the toilet paper has, the more time it’s going to take to break down
- Quilted – this implies there is adhesion between the toilet paper layers – this is going to take longer to dissolve in your septic system
- Scented – adding fragrance to toilet paper is adding unwanted chemicals to your septic system, and toxic chemicals can wreak havoc on the delicate balance of the microorganisms in the system
- Ultra comfort – this can only mean that it is thicker, and plumper which also means it will last longer in a septic tank
- Extra strong – the stronger the paper, the longer it will take to break down – the last thing a septic system needs
- Colored – introducing dyes into a septic tank is a recipe for disaster as it will upset the ecosystem and harm the microorganisms
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What breaks down toilet paper in septic tanks?
Septic tank eco-systems are a delicate balance of chemistry, biology, and physical science. Physically, the toilet paper starts to break down as it comes into contact with water. Then the micro-organisms (bacteria) in the septic tank start to break it down also. The chemical balance of the septic tank is important in keeping these micro-organisms alive and thriving.
Are flushable wipes safe for septic systems?
No. These wipes are advertised as flushable but they do not break down as well as toilet paper. They are stronger, with a thicker weave, and are often scented also. These are all bad qualities for septic systems so should not be used.
Is Cottonelle septic safe?
Cottonelle is a trusted toilet paper brand that is producing a toilet paper that is great for regular use, great for septic systems, and good for the environment too.
It’s a one-ply toilet paper but with quilting that provides better absorbance and strength while not affecting the ability to break down quickly in the tank. Paraben free, with no dyes or scents added means it’s also good for the environment.
Is bamboo toilet paper okay for septic tanks?
Bamboo toilet paper is naturally biodegradable and compostable so should be safe for septic systems. It should be tested first though to ensure that the brand purchased will break down easily and not cause any problems.
Is recycled toilet paper safe for septic systems?
Recycled toilet paper typically contains no chlorine bleach, inks, dyes, or fragrances making it an ideal toilet paper for septic systems.
Is biodegradable toilet paper best for septic tanks?
Yes, 100% it is. Toilet paper that breaks down quickly and easily leaving no residue is best for septic tanks.
Why is RV toilet paper in the top recommendations?
RV toilet paper is designed to break down quickly without the use of harsh chemicals. RV septic systems are smaller, and more sensitive, than household systems so rely on toilet paper being biodegradable and easily dissolved. If a toilet paper is recommended for RV use then it will also work well in household septic systems.
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